Fat. It’s the new black.

posted at 3:31 pm on May 11, 2014 by Jazz Shaw

I know what you’re thinking this Mother’s Day weekend… we probably don’t have enough protected classes of citizens in America. #Amiright? Well, fear not, citizens. There’s a new minority in town, and as Rick Moran explains, rather than being loud and proud, they’re large and in charge.

The imbroglio involving TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley’s comments about obese people is one of those incidents that you find it hard to agree with either side. Barkley — once known as the “round mound of rebound” should be the last person making fun of fat women. His fellow analyst Shaq O’Neil looks like he’s been packing on the pounds himself since he retired.

You have to imagine the TNT studio guys sitting around, mouthing off as guys might do in a locker room or a Man Cave, giving their opinions about how some women look, how ugly or hot they are. Except these guys are on national TV with a couple of million people tuning in.

Quite insensitive, no? But the reaction from a “fat acceptance” group should put America on notice that the next great drive for victimhood status is going to come from the BBW crowd.

Talk about a “gold mine” — imagine the smiles on the faces of the big, beautiful women who are working to make criticism and mocking of obese people something akin to racism

As Rick puts it, you, too, can become a protected class under EEOC, affirmative action, and — the jackpot — the Americans with Disabilities Act. All it takes is money to hire a bunch of lobbyists and to contribute to the right political campaigns.

I’m nobody to be telling others to get into shape. (Actually, I am in shape. Round is a shape.) But is this really yet another protected class? I don’t expect anyone to hire me to model swimsuits or run packages up and down six flights of stairs in a building with no elevator. I wouldn’t be qualified for the job, and honestly I’d be rather embarrassed to have Uncle Sam come in with me, holding my hand and ordering the boss to give me the job. Not everyone has control over their size, though many do and are perhaps just comfortable with the way they look. But I don’t think we need a national association to advance (Fill in the Minority) acceptance.

But I suppose that ship has sailed. Fat: It’s the new black. But it won’t make a very good Netflix original series.

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Coincidence that this comes up when we happen to have a first “lady” who is a sanctimonious child starving fatass food hypocrite who never saw a lobster buffet she wouldn’t bite people’s arms off if they got between it and her?

You are missing the point. This should be about showing ALL respect, not denigrating people based on appearance. And, frankly, it is very demeaning and insulting to assume fat people are lazy or stupid. People need to rethink how they react to fat people, based on the stigma that society has put on this particular body size.

We are now openly accepting all races and the gays. Why should fat people be the last group where it is socially acceptable to demean them or make fun of them with impunity? That is the purpose of NAAFA. Educate the public to show respect.

Being fat isn’t genetic or a life sentence you can’t appeal. Anyone can lose weight and change their weight. I would never look down on someone because they are heavy but they are killing themselves whether they will admit to it or not.

You are missing the point. This should be about showing ALL respect, not denigrating people based on appearance. And, frankly, it is very demeaning and insulting to assume fat people are lazy or stupid. People need to rethink how they react to fat people, based on the stigma that society has put on this particular body size.

We are now openly accepting all races and the gays. Why should fat people be the last group where it is socially acceptable to demean them or make fun of them with impunity? That is the purpose of NAAFA. Educate the public to show respect.

karenhasfreedom on May 11, 2014 at 3:42 PM

but then how do you explain the overweight people who have worked really hard and lost weight? the more we “accept” overweight people, the more we act like being overweight is something one can’t help, which isn’t true.

1. You’re born black. You’re not born fat.
2. Not everyone is accepting of gays. Probably not even a majority.

The US is the second fattest country in the world. Since obesity rates are tied to prosperity it’s easy to surmise that it is a behavior is due and not a medical issue. Obesity results from a lack of self control. Many are lazy and the lazy are legitimate targets of denigration.

speaking of things you can’t help, society has already convinced themselves that people definitely can’t change their sexual preference. it’s considered absolute insanity to say otherwise.

this is a belief i have that applies to many things in life: there are few things about yourself that truly can’t change. if you strongly want to change something about yourself, you’ll find a way to change. it may not be quick and it may not be easy, but you can do it.

this is something i’ve learned as an artist. artists practice and improve and get better over a period of years. when i hear people say “i can’t draw,” it just means that they don’t want to put in the years of practice.

What I really need is a comprehensive list of what I can and can’t say, do and think. I am getting tired of failing so miserably in my daily life that my every movement, choice and utterance offends so many good people. This sounds like a excellent project for the government to undertake, and if my taxes have to go up because of it. I understand. It’s a small price to pay to make the world a better place to live in.

Yet I was at a Mother’s Day hotel brunch a few hours ago, and a fat kid about 12 years old literally waddled back to his table with a plate piled high with… donuts and cookies. If this was your kid, wouldn’t you send him back to get something relatively healthy instead, like eggs and fruit?

Yes, and it should be. I’m white and heterosexual, so I have nothing on which to rely when I’m discriminated against. Except now there’s fat. It’s my only chance to get into a protected class.

I’m only half joking, by the way. Someone where I used to work used to verbally abuse me in front of all my co-workers. I finally had enough of his abuse and contacted HR about it. They said that if I was a protected class, they could do something. But since I’m not a protected class, there’s nothing they can do. I’m not kidding.

I’m sure that varies from company to company, but that’a how my ex-employer worked.

This sounds like a excellent project for the government to undertake, and if my taxes have to go up because of it. I understand. It’s a small price to pay to make the world a better place to live in.for everybody but me to live in

MrsGsBoyTommy on May 11, 2014 at 3:54 PM

FIFY

By the way, you sound suspiciously like a white guy- have you apologized for your white male privilege today?

The simple fact of the matter, humans naturally find obesity unattractive. It’s innate. The fat acceptance types are trying to change human nature, and that never works. Shaming them is helping them.

Nomennovum on May 11, 2014 at 3:59 PM

Mmmm, no- only true in societies that have been prosperous for a long, long time.

In cultures that live much closer to the edge, fat people (especially fat women) indicate something entirely positive. Namely that you can provide enough extra food for yourself and your female that you are fat. Means you are rich and successful.

What I really need is a comprehensive list of what I can and can’t say, do and think. I am getting tired of failing so miserably in my daily life that my every movement, choice and utterance offends so many good people. This sounds like a excellent project for the government to undertake, and if my taxes have to go up because of it. I understand. It’s a small price to pay to make the world a better place to live in.

MrsGsBoyTommy on May 11, 2014 at 3:54 PM

I must be misunderstanding or missed the sarc tag. Are you arguing with yourself or just trying to figure out what you want to say?

Mmmm no – only true in societies that have been prosperous for a long, long time.

In cultures that live much closer to the edge, fat people (especially fat women) indicate something entirely positive. Namely that you can provide enough extra food for yourself and your female that you are fat. Means you are rich and successful.

By the way, you sound suspiciously like a white guy- have you apologized for your white male privilege today?

Dolce Far Niente on May 11, 2014 at 4:02 PM

You’re right I haven’t apologized today so here goes. I’m sorry that’t I’m a white, middle aged, heterosexual, catholic, working class male. As penance I will commute 50 miles one way to work for a 10-12 hour shift at a job that pays me 50% less than I was making four years ago. If that’s not enough I will also pay for my own heath insurance even though the premiums have doubled since the ACA.

I’ve found few fat people that don’t also have an eating problem such as being addicted to fattening fast foods like daily hamburgers/french fries, buying a salad then drowning it in salad dressing, eating a whole pie at a time several times a week, pints of some of the most fattening ice cream several times a month, same with bags of candy, etc. Even drinking their coffee with spoons of sugar, or multiple soft drinks a day. Then complaining about gaining weight. I watched one beloved female co-worker I used to work with (very angry b/c she thought people looked at her because she was “fat”) order a dozen chicken fried breaded whatever, dip it in the additional dressing she’s ordered, eat that and then eat her “salad” over which she poured salad dressing from her own stash.

This is NOT a glandular problem. It’s an eating addiction problem, just like alcohol/drug addiction.

This behavior frequently results in Diabetes Type 2, which is the most prevalent form of diabetes, and also called adult-onset diabetes, which is associated with older age, obesity, previous history of gestational diabetes (in women), and physical inactivity. Personally know one male that lost almost 100lbs in about 6 months once he was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 (from 265lbs to 160lb), and then…….started unhealthy eating again and has gained almost all of it back from his appearance, but…. won’t divulge how much he weighs now. His tight-fitting, button-busting clothes tell the story. He’s also addicted to just everything else a person can be addicted to.

I’ve watched about 6 episodes of “My 600lb life”. The ones that were successful in losing weight changed their diet and the amount they ate. The ones that didn’t, found every excuse in the world, including lying to themselves and the doctors about how much/what they ate.

No, no, no! Can’t lose you. Please, please do something. Good people like you are rare.

[I’m a little overweight myself but also have celiac disease for the past 12 years, which messes with my nutrition absorption and energy levels. Some days I just curl up into a ball when an attack happens, not caring if the roof falls in.]

I don’t know if I agree with you that his is about creating a new protected class. More accurately his seems to be more about protecting people from being demeaned, marginalized and disrespected.

It’s fine to not hire a fatty to run stairs as you give the example of – it is not fine to humiliate and bully people because you feel superior to them.

KMC1 on May 11, 2014 at 4:18 PM

Here is someone who “gets it”. Few are asking for special privileges or being a protected class, just asking to be shown some respect and dignity, something that should be afforded to everyone who themselves are respectful of others.

The thing is, at some point (and I don’t mean a BMI point) being “FAT” is unhealthy.

I’ve seen people on Tumblr or elsewhere that seem to want to take pride in being VERY large. And I’m sorry, that is simply not something to take pride. Work to be as healthy and in shape as you can and I have no problem accepting you as you are somewhat heavy. But massive ? No, sorry. There is nothing to celebrate about that.

Of course this was coming. It is an obvious extension of the ADA. It’s a disability. Just like ‘needing’ a yapping dog for your stress so a landlord must rent to you or face draconian punishments.

We decided to get stupid, really, really stupid, some time ago. The only question is just how far is it going to go before it stops. History does not give any comfort. This kind of idiocy usually goes on long enough to cause serious pain to just about everyone before people have had enough, and sometimes not even then.

Fat: It’s the new black. But it won’t make a very good Netflix original series.

.
Wow, talk about your irony meter. I know a lot of black people and a lot of those black people are fat… outright fat… a lot of those friends and acquaintances of mine are fat. Fat is the new black? It’s not even fashionable.

Mmmm, no- only true in societies that have been prosperous for a long, long time.

In cultures that live much closer to the edge, fat people (especially fat women) indicate something entirely positive. Namely that you can provide enough extra food for yourself and your female that you are fat. Means you are rich and successful.

Dolce Far Niente on May 11, 2014 at 4:05 PM

This ^^^

Being “fat” isn’t necessarily always a choice. My weight has been in constant flux over the years. I have been very skinny and very obese. The obese periods are due to the steroid use for my auto-immune disease. I take these periods in stride, although it gets harder as I get older to recover and lose the weight from these periods. Right now, I am an okay weight, but it was tough at 40 getting there.

Still given that fat people tend to be ‘My people” sometimes, I don’t think we should be another “protected” class. Good God, pretty soon everyone will be protected, and it won’t mean – anyways.

I am waiting for the drug user to become…. erm, opps that is protected too.

I am waiting for …. oh heck, I give up. Who isn’t a protected class?

upinak on May 11, 2014 at 5:17 PM

White males who haven’t made dysfunctional choices.

When you understand the fundamental view of human beings that the left has, it all becomes clear. We are nothing but animals. Our choices are predetermined by our chemistry. Holding us responsible for our choices is pointlessly cruel. Being critical of a fat person for his gluttony is just like beating a dog or a pig for overeating.

It is a pitch black view of humanity, but it is really the way those animals (they really are nothing but animals) think about us.

Being critical of a fat person for his gluttony is just like beating a dog or a pig for overeating.

I agree. I really don’t care about peoples weight, since it doesn’t make them who they are as a person, unless that is how they see themselves. Much like how I feel about color or religion. Yeah, call it ignorant, but I just wasn’t raised that way.

I am mostly in the “no judging” camp because I’ve known plenty of overweight people who are far from lazy or bad in the areas that are relevant to my life. Same goes for the deadly vices that don’t show themselves on the waistline, like death sticks, drugs, or bareback sex. It’s better to be healthy, sure, but people with unhealthy lifestyles can still be good workers and nice people.

Jazz Shaw I hope you will not complain when they start calling you racist. I think your assertion that fat is the new black is about the most offensive statement I have seen on this site by a writer. I have tried my best to rationalize that statement but I couldn’t and this is not about PC. You are reducing an entire race and comparing them to being fat. Whatever context you are trying to use, this is flat out wrong. You can still write that same story without even mentioning black.

Coincidence that this comes up when we happen to have a first “lady” who is a sanctimonious child starving fatass food hypocrite who never saw a lobster buffet she wouldn’t bite people’s arms off if they got between it and her?

ConstantineXI on May 11, 2014 at 3:39 PM

She chewed through a wall of Masonite to get to the next room because she heard lobster claws being cracked open. The occupants surrendered their lobsters to her out of fear.

I know what you’re thinking this Mother’s Day weekend… we probably don’t have enough protected classes of citizens in America. #Amiright? Well, fear not, citizens. There’s a new minority in town, and as Rick Moran explains, rather than being loud and proud, they’re large and in charge.

Jazz wrote a blog where she equates being fat to being black and used the word “protected class” and I was napping when this beauty was first posted.